A large-scale prisoner exchange occurred between Russia and Western countries. As part of the deal, Vadim Krasikov, an employee of the Federal Security Service who was serving a sentence in a German prison for the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili - a Georgian citizen and former Chechen field commander - was handed over to Russia.
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The exchange of prisoners took place on August 1 at the Ankara airport, mediated by Turkish intelligence. A total of 26 prisoners were involved in the exchange.
“All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia - including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over," said US President Joe Biden.
Among those named by Biden as released were Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, politician and publicist Vladimir Kara-Murza, Marine Paul Whelan - a citizen of the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, and Canada accused of espionage in Russia - and Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
8 individuals returning to Russia were welcomed with a red carpet and an honor guard at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport. Vladimir Putin personally came to the airport to greet them. Putin stated that all the returnees would receive state awards and that he would meet with them again "to talk about the future."
5 years ago, on August 23, 2019, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili's family learned about Vadim Krasikov's release from the media. "No one has asked me anything; so far, I don't know anything. It is unpleasant for me that the murderer of my brother is allowed to return to his homeland," said Zurab Khangoshvili.
Vladimir Putin confirmed the Kremlin's interest in releasing Vadim Krasikov in early February 2024. The Russian president addressed this issue in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson. "In one of the countries, a partner of the United States, there is a person [in prison] who, out of patriotic feelings, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals." Putin did not directly name anyone, but it was clear from his response that the Russian special services were willing to release Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who had been arrested in Russia on charges of espionage, in exchange for the release of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili's killer.
Vadim Krasikov's name was also mentioned in connection with attempts to secure the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny from prison. Maria Pevchikh, Navalny's associate and chairman of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that Alexei Navalny was supposed to be exchanged for the killer of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. However, at the last stage of negotiations, the Russian president decided against this.
Vadim Krasikov had been sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany. The Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany claimed that Zelimkhan Khangoshvili was killed on the orders of the Russian authorities.
